CALL THE EXTERMINATOR

I love seeing Fedex, UPS, or even the mailman come to the house with an arm full of packages. It doesn’t matter if it is Christmas or if it is April, packages are always welcome. Sometimes I know what is in the box and then there are times when it is something that Joe has ordered, and I don’t know what is inside. Like all nosy women, I will open ALL the packages, no matter who they are addressed to, as long as they don’t contain the word AERO or AIRPLANE. Those are of no interest to me at all. Lol!

I learned a lesson the hard way that ALL packages should be opened and the cardboard boxes thrown outside. One year some packages came, and I just left them alone until finally one day a couple of weeks later I went ahead and opened them. The problem was that one of them had a few baby cockroaches inside. Oh my goodness, I quickly grabbed it and ran outside with it as fast as I could and made sure that none were going back in the house with me. However, a couple of weeks later, I saw one in my laundry room. I knew right then that some of them had escaped the box and I called the exterminator. He sprayed, and because he knew that I was freaking out, he left me some of the sprays to continue applying to areas that the bugs might go. I sprayed every other day under the refrigerator, the dishwasher, the stove, the washer, the dryer, the freezer, and even around light switches. The exterminator told me that they like heat, so I sprayed anything that was warm. Then out of nowhere, I would see another. The poor man came back to my house every time I would see one, and I was not a happy camper.

I started thinking of these creatures as sins. Aren’t sins like this? They start out being ignored and only tiny little things. But, if they are not found and gotten rid of entirely, they keep getting bigger and multiplying. A little white lie can seem harmless. However, I have noticed how we have to tell another white lie and then another and then another to keep the first small lie from being found out. It can become a huge BIG cloud that hangs over our heads, and we have no idea how to quit the lies.

That is when we need to call in a professional. We need to turn to the Bible and read the word of God.

Proverbs 12:22

22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

Ephesians 4:29

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

I started praying to the Lord to rid me of my sins. I asked Him to strengthen my belief and to guide my path. He was the professional that I called in for my sinful nature. As for the cockroaches, my professional ended up being Joe. He found a high powered spray and after he sprayed we have not seen a bug in years. He did raise an eyebrow at me when he started to see all of the Christmas presents beginning to pile up. I reminded him that he still had his spray and I am thankful that I still have my Bible for any unwanted sins that come creeping back.

Living in Florida I know what you mean about roaches. You are also right about sin and the Bible being the best deterrent for those pesky little things. I usually won’t even think about doing big sin but the little sins come around looking so innocent and those are the ones that might catch me in their web. The Bible makes those things come to mind and lets you know I had better fix that right now or it will grow into the big sin. Thanks for keeping me mindful of this.

Great illustration, thank you! Since I live in the South, I need the name of your high power bug spray please!! Can’t stand those yucky bugs and I am totally guilty of saving boxes so I’m freaking out now lol

I agree with Debra. This is a very apt analogy and shows that even innocent and well meaning Little lies/sins can turn into Big and hurtful sins. Thanks for the gentle reminder and for a chuckle this Sunday morning.

Perfect analogy. It seems so easy to tell just “one little white lie” and how quickly they multiply and get out of control. They weigh us down with burden and guilt. Thankful the Lord is here to help and guide us. All we need to do is ask.